The next four weeks of the college football recruiting calendar are basically the equivalent of an extended Mardi Gras, mixing the College Football Playoff and the NFL Draft into a blender and spitting it out as recruiting heaven. Official Visit These are things that have been in the works for months, and there will be plenty of prospects who end up committing without taking a second, third or even fourth official visit.
With visitpalooza now in full swing and freshmen heading out to their destinations on Thursday night or Friday, 247Sports experts from coast to coast broke down the biggest visits they're tracking during the first real recruiting weekend of the year. 2025 cycle. Don't expect the Class of 2025 recruiting rankings to look the same in just a few days.
Crimson Tide host QB Kieron Russell
“The first week of official visits has had some intriguing storylines, but Duncanville's Top 247 quarterback, Kieron Russell's trip to Alabama ranks top of the list. The SMU commit took his official visit to the Mustangs last week. Rhett Lashlee and his staff will be counting down the hours for Russell's visit to Tuscaloosa this weekend.”
“Alabama has been the most dangerous contender in this race for the past two months, with Cullen DeBoer fresh off of bringing up Michael Pennis and the ability to make a strong pitch. Russell has been vocal about wanting to play on the big stage and win at a high level, and the Crimson Tide could be looking to land the top passing player in the state of Texas this weekend.” — Mike Roach, 247Sports
Tom Roy of 247Sports all but predicted the 247Sports Crystal Ball would predict the Tide would land Russell, adding: “Florida, Ole Miss, Oregon and others are trying their best to pry him away from the Mustangs, but no one is pressing the right buttons more than the Tide.”
Clemson's top target escapes
The Tigers must bounce back with five-star OT David Sanders
“Clemson is betting on a smaller net of prospects. But the Tigers got screwed last cycle, especially on the offensive line. They're hoping for a better hit rate this cycle. So the Clemson guest list is The player to watch this weekend is five-star David Sanders Jr., the nation's No. 1 offensive tackle, who plays at Charlotte Providence Day in North Carolina, just a few hours away from campus.
While Clemson was once considered a favorite to win, I continue to favor Tennessee, especially after this past weekend's trip to Knoxville. I'd put Ohio State at No. 2, with Clemson and Georgia rounding out the top three. But can Clemson make a move this weekend and show Sanders and his family why they're the favorite? I wouldn't write off the Tigers as a win at this point, but it's equally, if not more, important to note that the Tigers are not in the lead and that Clemson needs to change trajectory to win. — Anna Adams, 247Sports
Michigan gears up for big weekend
Can the Wolverines bounce back from a weak PSU team?
“Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga four-star safety Kainoa Winston has long been considered a Penn State favorite in recruiting circles, and not just because of his cousin, K.J. Winston, who plays for the Nittany Lions. The nation's No. 43 prospect has already been to campus multiple times and is scheduled to take his official visit June 7-9. But the Wolverines will get their first chance on the official visit tour, and they have a chance to set the bar. Winston visited campus in the spring and made a big impression. Winston has been compared to Mike Sainlistil, who is 5'10″ tall and weighs 185 pounds and is muscular. They have similar builds and athleticism coming out of high school, something the coaching staff has emphasized. Michigan will have to bounce back as Winston heads to Penn State next week. Official visits to Oregon (June 14) and North Carolina (June 21) are also on Winston's schedule, but the schools to watch are Michigan and Penn State.” — Brian Doane, 247Sports
UM wants to aim high with four-star pass rusher
“The No. 1 defensive recruit in Northern California, four-star edge rusher Marco Jones of Danville (Calif.) San Ramon Valley, was at Michigan on an unofficial visit last month. Shortly after, he was named in the top 10 and set up an official visit with the Wolverines. The Wolverines sent two of their coaches to meet with him last week before the evaluation period ended, making the two-sport star, who also plays baseball, a top priority. He has Big Ten roots, too. His father, Anwan Jones, played at Northwestern before transferring to Colorado with Gary Barnett, who coached at Northwestern (1992-98) and Colorado (1999-05). Jones has always been keen to leave the state, and this will be his first official visit, but it could be a tall order.” — Brandon Huffman, 247Sports
USC looks to bolster talent amid Big Ten relocation
Four-star OT Aaron Dunn is top priority
“USC is on the verge of joining the physical Big Ten and one of the main focuses of their recruiting efforts was adding size and strength up front. The transfer portal was a good way for the Trojans to add instant depth, but it left something to be desired when it came to elite linemen under their feet. This weekend should go a long way to rectify that. Look no further than Aaron Dunn, a four-star offensive tackle out of Spanish Fork High School who is rated No. 2 in the state of Utah. He's a promising tackle at 6-foot-7, 290 pounds and has great athleticism.
“Dunn visited Los Angeles this spring to get an up-close look at the Trojans before taking officials to UCLA and BYU. Trips to Utah and Oregon remain before Dunn is scheduled to go undrafted. This is a great opportunity for USC to make a move to acquire one of the top tackles in the West, and Lincoln Riley is expected to do everything in his power to add top talent to a position of need.” — Blair Angulo, 247Sports
New Conference Footprint Contributes to 5-Star Safety
“Five-star safety Trey McNutt visited USC last May, and the Cleveland (Ohio) Shaker Heights superstar is now back as an official. The No. 1 safety in the 2025 class has a good relationship with the staff and is open to attending a school far from home (though it definitely helps that USC can brag about how many games it will play near Ohio State over the next few seasons).
“Ohio State and Oregon are two other schools on the list. The Buckeyes are an in-state option, but he won't be choosing a school solely on proximity. The Trojans have felt like serious contenders since offering last spring, and this official announcement should make it clearer whether they are one of the top options.” of The school has to win in order to get into the other board members.” — Allen Truew, 247Sports
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